IfG Events

Latest Episodes:

The view from the IfG: Government in 2026 Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference.

Political journalist Carolyn Quinn, former presenter of the BBC’s Westminster Hour, was in conversation with four IfG programme directors to discuss their vital work on policy making, public services, ministers and public bodies – and their verdict on the government’s performance.

Nick Davies, Programme Director (Public Services) at the Institute for Government
Nehal Davison, Programme Director (Policy making) at the Institute for Government
Tim Durrant, Programme Director (Ministers) at the Institute for Government
Matthew Gill, Programme Director (Public Bodies) at the Institute for Government

We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event.

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In conversation with Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference.

The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister discussed why his role spanning both No10 and the Cabinet Office was created and the need to modernise public services. Speaking with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government, he set out the changes being made to the centre of Whitehall to enable the government to drive action more quickly in 2026.

We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event.

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Elections 2026: How could votes in England, Scotland and Wales reshape British politics? Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference.

A preview of the issues at stake in the hugely significant elections taking place across the UK in May 2026.

Kezia Dugdale, former Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Associate Director of the Centre for Public Policy
Guto Harri, broadcaster and former No.10 Director of Communications
Akash Paun, Programme Director (Devolution) at the Institute for Government
Luke Tryl, Director of More in Common

This session was chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event.

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Rewiring the state: Is the government making any progress? Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference.

Drawing on brand new IfG research, this panel gave its verdict on the government's attempts to reform the civil service.

Whitehall Monitor 2026 presentation from Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.

Followed by a panel discussion featuring:

Rt Hon Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester (joining virtually)
Lord Michael Gove, Editor of The Spectator and former government minister
Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government
Rowena Mason, Whitehall Editor at The Guardian

This session was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director for Impact and Influence at the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event.

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Is the centre of government built to deliver? Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference.

An expert panel explored how well No.10 and the Treasury work together to deliver the government's economic priorities.

Rt Hon Ed Balls, broadcaster, presenter of Political Currency, and former Education Secretary
Kelly Beaver MBE, Chief Executive of Ipsos in the UK and Ireland
Baroness Ayesha Hazarika, broadcaster and former political adviser

This session was chaired by Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and former No.10 Adviser.

We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event.

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In conversation with Louise Casey, Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference.

Baroness Louise Casey, the government's Lead Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Independent Commission into Adult Social Care, discused her work across the public sector with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event.

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Government 2026 Welcome and keynote speech by Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference.

Opening remarks from

Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government
Phillip Woolley, Partner, Head of Consulting at Grant Thornton UK LLP

Followed by a keynote speech by Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care delivered a speech, followed by a conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event.

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Devolving growth: What are the challenges and opportunities for new strategic authorities? Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

The government’s ‘devolution revolution’ in England will see newly-created strategic authorities given greater powers to shape local economic policy through designing and delivering strategies on skills, housing, infrastructure, and transport. This will equip mayors to drive growth, raise living standards and improve services in their areas, while mayoral-led authorities are also expected to influence national economic policy through statutory local growth plans.

So how can new authorities – some of which will work across new geographies – develop a well-evidenced and coherent economic strategies? How can places at different stages of development approach this challenge? What role can local businesses, universities, and civil society play in shaping these plans? And how can they best be engaged?

Drawing on new IfG research, supported by the University of Surrey, which uses UK and international best practice to set out the development lifecycle of a local economic strategy, this event brough together an expert panel to explore how new strategic authorities can deliver local economic growth.

Professor Lisa Collins, Pro Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation at the University of Surrey
Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government
Tom Walker, Interim CEO at Greater Essex Combined County Authority
Mayor Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands

The event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This was followed by a Q&A session and an opportunity to network over lunch with fellow attendees.

We would like to thank the University of Surrey for kindly supporting this event.

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Are public inquiries a good way for government to learn lessons? Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

On 20 November, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry published its second report – four and a half years after the inquiry was first announced by Boris Johnson. This report – which follows July’s report on resilience and preparedness – focuses on political and administrative decision making in the UK government during the pandemic, including from the perspectives of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

What does this report reveal about how government operated during the pandemic? What are its lessons for how future governments approach crisis management and preparedness? What has the Covid Inquiry taught us about the need for reforming how inquiries are run? And how should the government approach this challenge?

To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including:

Vimbai Dzimwasha, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

Katie Lines, Senior Research Fellow at the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law

Jim Reed, Health Reporter at the BBC

The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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The Covid Inquiry: What does Module II say about government decision making and political governance? Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

On 20 November 2025, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry will publish its second report. This module focuses on political and administrative decision making during the pandemic, examining how key decisions were made across government, and civil service performance. This report will also include perspectives from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

In a rapid reaction webinar the following day, our expert IfG panel unpacked the report’s findings and explored their implications for future governance:

Tim Durrant, Programme Director for the IfG Ministers work programme
Stuart Hoddinott, Associate Director at the IfG
Akash Paun, Programme Director for the IfG Devolution work programme
Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the IfG Civil Service work programme

The webinar was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

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